Link, Pauline

She was born July 6, 1914, in Wright Township, Mich., to the late Lewis Paul and Edna Hazel (Winzeler) Towne. She married Glen “Dick” Link in 1930, and he preceded her in death Sept. 25, 1987.

Polly graduated from Fayette High School and furthered her studies in the art field at the Fort Wayne School of Art and Design, Defiance College, Toledo Museum of Art, Florida’s Barnum and Bailey Art School, and Siena Heights University.

Polly was a self-employed artist and art teacher, working out of her home studio on Ranger Highway near Morenci, where she painted on china for clients across the country. Her older paintings can be found overseas in countries including Greece, Germany and France. She has paintings in every state in the United States, except New Jersey. Polly taught her talents to hundreds of students over the years.

Aside from her devotion to her art, she also enjoyed quilting, sewing, fishing and hunting. She attended Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

Polly once stated that when she dies, she doesn’t want people to say that she is deceased; she wants everyone to say that she’s “Gone Fishing.”

Surviving Polly are one sister, Velma Scott of Sylvania, Ohio; special friends, Ned Horton of Alvordton, Ohio, and Dolores Schaffner of Fayette; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Polly was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Don White and Lewis Towne; and three sisters, Mildred Hand, Faye Towne and Bea Ott.

Funeral services are planned at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Eagle Funeral Home-Barrett Chapel in Fayette. Interment will follow in the Pleasant View Union Cemetery in Fayette. Visitation is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Normal Memorial Library or the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

GAMES DAY—Finn Molitierno (right) celebrates a goal during a game of Nok Hockey with his sister, Kyla. The two tried out a variety of games Saturday at Stair District Library’s annual International Games Day event. One of the activities featured a sort of scavenger hunt in which participants had to locate facts presented in the Smithsonian Hometown Teams exhibit. The traveling show left Morenci’s library Tuesday, wrapping up a series of programs that began Oct. 2. Additional photos are on page 7.

STRANGE STUFF—Morenci Elementary School students learn that blue isn’t really blue when seen through the right color of lens. Volunteer April Pike presents the lesson to students at one of the many stations brought to the school by the COSI science center. The theme of this year’s visit was the solar system.

MAPLE leaves show their fall colors in a puddle at Morenci’s Riverside Natural Area. “This was a great year for colors,” said local weather watcher George Isobar. Chilly mornings will give way to seasonable fall temperatures for the next two weeks.

MORENCI Marching Band member Brittany Dennis keeps the beat Friday during the half-time show of the Morenci/Pittsford football game. Color guard member Jordan Cordts is at the left. The band performed this season under the direction of Doyle Rodenbeck who served as Morenci’s band director in the 1970s. He’s serving as a substitute during a family leave.

MOVING EAST—Utility workers continue their slow progress east along U.S. 20 south of Morenci. New electrical poles are put in place before wiring is moved into place.

A PERFORMER named Biligbaatar, a member of the AnDa Union troupe from Inner Mongolia, dances at Stair District Library last week during a visit to the Midwest. The nine-member group blends a variety of traditions from Inner and Outer Mongolia. The music is described as drawing from “all the Mongol tribes that Genghis Khan unified.” The group considers itself music gatherers whose goal is to preserve traditional sounds of Mongolia. Biligbaatar grew up among traditional herders who live in yurts. Additional photos are on the back page of this week’s Observer.

HOLDEN HUTCHISON gives a hug to a black bear cub—the product of a taxidermist’s skills—at the Michigan DNR’s Great Youth Jamboree. The event on Sunday marked the fourth year of the Jamboree. Additional photos are on page 12.